Question : Maulana Azad National Fellowship for Minority Students

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students is not awarded in a systematic and regular way and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of fellowships awarded over the last six years;
(c) whether the Government intends to share the waiting list as on date for the award of fellowship, if available and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether those candidates who belong to reserve categories like SC/ ST/ OBC are eligible for Maulana Azad National Fellowship and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the fellowship is awarded through a common list or the specific fixed number fore very state and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

(a): The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme for educational empowerment of students belonging to six notified minority communities i.e. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian (Parsi). Selections under the MANF Scheme are done as per the approved guidelines.

(b): During the last six years (i.e. from 2014-15 to 2019-20) 5275 Fellowships have been awarded under the MANF Scheme.

(c): The MANF Scheme is implemented through the University Grants Commission (UGC) and no waiting list is prepared under the Scheme by UGC.

(d): Candidates belonging to the Six centrally notified minority communities’ viz., Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian (Parsi) are considered for award of fellowship under the MANF Scheme.

(e): The selection of candidates for 2019-20 under the MANF Scheme has been made through JRF-NET (Junior Research Fellow- National Eligibility Test) examination conducted by National Testing Agency and the merit list has been prepared by UGC on the basis of all India ranking of candidates. Prior to 2019-20, the merit list was prepared on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates in their Post Graduate examination. However in 2018-19 only the candidates who had qualified CBSE-UGC-NET/JRF or CSIR-NET/JRF were eligible to apply.


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